Ladder



Get. 16 1923.

c. c. STEVENS LADDER Filed Dec. '15, 1922 w I ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented @et. 1%,1923.

time

CHARLES (3.. STEVENS, OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SAGINAW LADDER I (30., OF SAGINAXV, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

LADDER.

Application filed December 15, 1922. Serial No..607,100.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Saginaw, in'the county of Saginaw and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to ladders and pertains more particularly to step-ladders adapted for use on rough or uneven ground, as for example, ladders used for picking fruits, and for like purposes.

The objects of my invention are to produce a ladder of inexpensive construction, yet of great strength and rigidity and capable of being easily and quickly set up in proper working position, even though the ground be very uneven.

A further bject is to provide a folding ladder having legs capable of being sov braced that the ladder can be supported partly by a leg resting on the ground and partly, if necessary, by another leg acting as a brace, say, against a tree or a wall, thereby making the ladder adaptable for almost any service required in the work of picking fruits, trimming trees and the like.

Vith the foregoing and certain other objects in view which will appear later in the specification, my invention comprises the device described and claimed and alents thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a rear view of'a ladder embodying my improvement.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the pivoted legguiding bracket.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

As is clearly shown in the drawings my improved ladder consists of a frame comprising the usual rails 1 with steps 2 and the top step 3.

Preferably the top step is secured to the rails by a stationary bracket, as l in Fig. 1.

A second movable bracket-5 is pivotedby its laterally projecting-end lugs to swing about a horizontal axis, its ends supported by the ladder frame, or preferably by the brackets 4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A pair of independently movable legs 6, 7

the equivare pivoted as at 8, 9, being spaced apart so spect to each other.

Each of the two pivots 8 and 9 passes through a reinforcing and stiffening plate 14 on the opposite faces of said legs, as shown in Fig. 3.

The bracket 5 is preferably formed'with a pair of slotted quadrant members 10 and 11, the slots being arranged on the arcs of circles having the pivot pins 8 and 9 respectively as their centers.

Each of the legs 6 and 7 has a pin, as 12, 13, secured intermediate its ends, the pins traveling in the slots of the qudarants l0 and 11 respectively when the legs are spread apart or drawn together.

When the legs are folded, their lower ends can be readily adjusted to suit various unevennesses of the ground surface and yet; prevent twisting of the top of the ladder when a person is standing thereon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

A step ladder having brackets at the sides thereof. an angularly movable bar having a pair of slotted quadrants integral therewith, integral laterally extending lugs at the ends of said bar, thefaces of said lugs engaging the-faces of said brackets and secured thereto by pivot pins, a pair of legs on one face of said bar, a plate extending. across the back faces, of said legs and apair of pivot pins each passing through said bar,

and a'jpinon each legslidingly engaging the slot of one of said quadrants, for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof,"l affix my ture.

signa- ,oHAnLns c. STEVENS.

100 I and through one of said legs and said plate. 

